Bebop Spoken There

Warne Marsh: "At some point, you have to be prepared to create—to perform. It's vital, man, if we're talking about jazz, the original jazz, the performing art. It fulfils its meaning only when you play it live in front of an audience." DownBeat January 1983.

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18191 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 45 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 14), 45

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Wed 21: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 21: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 21: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 22: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: 2025 obituaries.
Thu 22: Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook @ The Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. SOLD OUT!
Thu 22: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta. @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm (doors). £6.50 (inc. bf).

Fri 23: Sue Ferris Quintet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 23: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 23: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 24: An Evening with Will Todd @ Durham Cathedral. 7:30pm. Feat. Voices of Hope, Strictly Smokin’ Big Band (members of) & Alice Grace. Performance inc. Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis. £25.50., £13.50., £19.50., £10.50.

Sun 25: Musicians Unlimited @ West Hartlepool RFC. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: More Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Gaz Hughes Trio @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 25: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 25: Alexia Gardner Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00., £10.00., £7.00.

Mon 26: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 27: Pete Roth Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm. Feat. Bill Bruford.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Saturday, February 20, 2021

KSTV: Playback session - Baby Dodds Trio playing Jazz á la Creole - Feb. 20

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals); Dave Archer guitar); Deschanel Gordon (piano); Ferg Ireland (double bass); Will Cleasby (drums)

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

The Wolverine Blues got things underway with New Orleans specialist Adrian Cox leading the pack. A Baby Dodds' Jazz á la Creole hour with none other than Evan Christopher listening in online from NOLA! First thoughts, pianist Deschanel 'Desch' Gordon (aka Don Ewell) comfortable in the idiom, likewise drummer Will 'Baby Dodds' Cleasby. 

Cox (think Albert Nicholas) invited Cleasby to play Dodds' Drum Improvisation #1, you could say Cleasby made a good job of it!  The Creole component emerged as Cox sang Salee Dame, excellent. Danny Barker's Les Ognons heard more from Cox the vocalist, Dave Archer strumming/soloing the Barker instrumental part. Dodds' second improvised solo on the Jazz á la Creole recording (Drum Improvisation #2) put Will C back in the spotlight. Cox was impressed. 

Cox introduced Corinne Died on the Battlefield as 'a cheery little number'! Will C playing tambourine, now there's a first! They were dancing down in the Vieux Carré. More vocals from Cox on Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing, the band following Dave Archer's lead. The man at the back, bass man Mr Ferg Ireland is the man on all of these Kansas Smitty's sessions and here he was again, a class act is Ferg. One more, My Indian Red, Cleasby bringing it in, a Cox vocal, Cox urging Dave Archer to 'tell 'em'. And the last word (almost) from Ferg Ireland and Will C before leaving it to Cox to take it home.       
Russell

Set list: The Wolverine BluesAlbert's BluesDrum Improvisation #1Salee DameLes OgnonsCorinne Died on the BattlefieldTootie Ma is a Big Fine ThingMy Indian Red

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